The M. Catherine Richardson 1L Clerkship Program
Bond, Schoeneck & King invites 1L law students attending ABA-accredited law schools to apply for our M. Catherine Richardson 1L Clerkship Program. The purpose of this program is to provide meaningful law firm experience to aspiring first-year law students whose backgrounds and life experiences bring a needed, particularly unique perspective and/or skill set to the legal profession. Merely by way of example, a first-year student who brings uncommon cultural fluency, has had military or other significant public service experience, is from underprivileged family circumstances or overcame other barriers, has been deeply involved in charitable or community causes, has worked to create diverse, inclusive and equitable spaces or has achieved uncommon success or recognition in a particular field may bring the kind of unique personal background this clerkship is intended to champion.
The clerkship runs for ten to twelve weeks. At least one applicant will be selected for each summer. Law clerks will work a fulltime schedule based upon 40 hours per week.
Office location(s) hiring for the 2025 program include: Albany, Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse, NY.
Eligibility Criteria
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Full-time, first year law student in good standing at an ABA-accredited law school.
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Demonstrates strong academic performance, the ability to express ideas clearly and effectively (both in writing and verbally).
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Works well with a team, takes initiative regarding decision-making/guiding others, and is involved in activities that benefit the community.
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Has a background and experiences that advance diversity in the legal profession or other professions and can articulate why/how this brings a particularly unique perspective and/or skill set to the legal profession, as well as to the Firm, as a result of cultural fluency, resilience, service, and life experiences.
Required Application Materials
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Official first-year law school transcript (which may be only the fall semester). If grades are not available by the deadline, they may be submitted later.
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Current resume (which must include undergraduate GPA or class standing).
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A typed personal statement of 1,000 words or less. The statement should include an explanation of the following:
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professional aspirations as a lawyer;
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a discussion of how the student brings a particularly unique perspective and/or skill set to the legal profession as a result of cultural fluency, resilience, service and/or life experience; and
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the office location(s) of interest as well as a discussion of any connection to the geographic area(s), if any.
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Please note there is no benefit to applying early. Applications will not be reviewed until after 1/27/25.
How to apply
Selection Criteria
Bond will review applications, conduct interviews, and select the successful applicant. In addition to personal background and experiences, academic performance, and community involvement, an important factor on which selection decisions will be based, is the student’s interest in working at Bond. Immediate family or household members of Bond, Schoeneck & King members and employees are ineligible. Please note that the student will be responsible for providing their own lodging for the duration of the clerkship.
Learn more about why Bond is a great place to work.
Future Employment with Bond
The M. Catherine Richardson 1L Clerkship Program is entirely separate and apart from Bond’s 2L summer law clerk hiring process. A student selected for the program is not guaranteed future employment with Bond, Schoeneck & King, nor employment with us as a 2L summer clerk. However, one of our goals is to become acquainted with eligible law students who may be interested in applying for our 2L summer clerk program or employment with us after graduation. Therefore, we encourage clerkship applicants, whether selected for the M. Catherine Richardson 1L Clerkship or not, to apply for our 2L summer clerk program. Please be advised that our 2L summer clerk program has a separate application process. An application for the M. Catherine Richardson 1L Clerkship Program is not considered an application for our 2L summer clerk program or any other employment with Bond, Schoeneck & King.